Frank Spitznagel, Michael Lutton & Nikita Burdein

Teaches at Magnet Training Center

Frank Spitznagel is the Musical Director at Magnet Theater and a piano accompanist who frequently plays for such improv groups as I Eat Pandas, Veal, The Made-Up Musical, Gusto, and many others. He is a graduate of the Boston Conservatory of Music, where he studied piano performance. His work can be heard on several studio recordings. Frank has composed for Comedy Central and the Aspen Comedy Festival. He accompanied Itzhak Perlman in an original jazz composition by Benny Golson at Lincoln Center. He also played the American premiere of The Hired Man Off-Broadway. He has been musical director for productions such as Nunsense (all incarnations), A Chorus Line, Chicago City Limits, and several original musicals.

Michael Lutton has been a Magnet instructor since 2011. He has travelled the country performing in festivals and has taught workshops in Boston and Washington, DC. He has also taught several corporate and team-building workshops. He began improvising in 2006, and was lucky to train with teachers such as Armando Diaz, Rachel Hamilton, James Eason, and Tara Copeland. Michael currently teaches Level 1, as well as Musical Improv Level 1 and Musical Improv Level 3. In addition to his teaching duties, Michael is the Director of the Musical Improv Program at the Magnet.

Nikita Burdein is an Improviser, Actor, Writer, and Filmmaker. He has trained at the Magnet Theater and Upright Citizens Brigade since 2011 and performs weekly with Magnet musical house teams Wonderland and Premiere. He also performs with Royals at the Peoples Improv Theater and with Happy Karaoke Fun Time at the Annoyance Theater. He is a founding member of the puppet troupe, Penny and the Puppettes, and a producer of the storytelling podcast, We Love Bedtime Stories. He has worked behind the scenes on many advertising campaigns, films, and television shows.